Colostomy

A surgical procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall to divert stool into a colostomy bag, used in colorectal cancer, bowel obstruction, or trauma.

Colostomy is recommended when non-surgical treatments have failed, when the condition significantly affects quality of life, or when imaging confirms the need for intervention. Your General Surgery surgeon will assess your suitability after a detailed consultation.

Colostomy is typically performed under General anesthesia. Your anaesthetist will review your health history, medications, and allergies before the procedure to ensure safety.

Most patients recover within 6–8 weeks, though this varies by individual health, age, and compliance with physiotherapy. Light activities can usually resume within a few weeks; full recovery takes longer.

As with any surgical procedure, risks include bleeding, infection, anaesthesia reactions, and rare complications such as injury to adjacent structures. Your surgeon will discuss your personal risk profile during the consent process.

Colostomy has a documented success rate of 93% when performed by qualified surgeons at accredited hospitals. Outcomes depend on the patient's overall health, disease severity, and adherence to post-operative care.